Talking Architecture & Design

“Technology is often seen as the answer, but I believe design is the real answer. Technology is there to enable and to empower.”

Xavier De Kestelier is a global Head of Design and leader of Hassell’s design technology and innovation team, which sets strategy and advises on the tools and knowledge the international design firm needs to succeed. 

Both an architect and technologist, Xavier harnesses technology to create more powerful, future-focused design solutions. That means he’s responsible for overseeing Hassell’s work in computational design, building information modelling, visualisation and virtual reality worldwide. 

Over the past decade Xavier has forged a reputation as an industry leader in the exploration and adoption of parametric design and digital fabrication. Most recently, he was behind Hassell’s concept for a ​‘home’ on Mars – part of NASA’s 3D Printed Habitat Challenge.

A TED talker and regular speaker at major design and tech events, Xavier is also a director of Smartgeometry, a non-profit, global educational network for computational and digital design specialists.

He talks exclusively top Talking Architecture & Design about the future of lunar design.

As CEO of City West Housing, Leonie King leads a committed team that develops affordable housing and provide housing services to some 1,600 residents in metropolitan Sydney.

In this episode, Leonie King will be talking about affordable homes, funding, planning approvals, land costs, how can we get governmental outcomes for housing, private developers, and community housing providers working together to better to solve our housing crisis & much, much more.

This podcast is brought to you in association with AWS, proud sponsors of our 2025 Residential series of podcasts.

Cathy Inglis AM is Group CEO for Think Brick, Concrete Masonry Association & Roofing Tile Associations Australia and is an experienced Materials Engineer and technical expert with nearly 30 years in the building industry with a focus on research, product development and product compliance.

Cathy has worked in key leadership roles in management and business development with responsibility for research of new products, technical matters and leading innovation to improve the energy efficiency of operations and to create sustainable building products. 

Tone Wheeler is an Architect, author, educator and consultant with an abiding interest in environmentally sustainable design (ESD). Since 1986 he has been design leader at environa studio.

Tone is a past chair of the AIA National Environment Committee & a past member of the Sustainability Committee. Tone was made AIA Life Fellow in 2022 for his contributions to the discipline and profession of architecture.

In this episode, Cathy Inglis & Tone Wheeler explain how we can achieving greater urban density in Australian cities without compromising liveability while also embedding low-carbon materials.

Opacity is HDR’s annual global design review, bringing together diverse voices from across the design community to critically examine our best built and unbuilt work. It provides a platform for rigorous dialogue, sharpening our design conscience and pushing creative boundaries. 

In this episode, HDR's Melbourne Design Principal Alison Potter as well as Simon Fleet, who is HDR's Sydney Design Principal talk about Opacity, regenerative design framework, advanced data-driven capabilities, and a collaborative, cross-disciplinary approach and much, much more.

Samantha Peart has worked across 20 different countries, involving sustainability strategies and multidisciplinary project delivery for commercial and residential buildings, healthcare facilities, retail developments, university campuses, large-scale infrastructure projects and organisations. 

In her role as Hassell’s Global Head of Sustainability, Peart is leading the drive for innovation in sustainable design, helping to steer Hassell’s mission to become a more sustainable and forward-thinking practice. 

Prue Pascoe, Associate Interior Designer at Hassell has played a key role in the design of the Design Wall 2023. The Design Wall is part of the Melbourne Now exhibition and showcases innovative product design from Melbourne at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV).

In this interview Samantha and Prue discuss the drive towards Closing the Loop and in what ways are smart technologies (IoT, AI, data analytics) driving sustainability in building operations and infrastructure management.

This podcast is brought to you in association with Autex Acoustics, proud sponsors of our 2025 Sustainability series of podcasts.

Adrian Popple has over 35 years’ experience in residential design and under his guidance seen Metricon countless times recognised and awarded by Australia's peak building bodies for its innovative and industry leading designs.

Joining Metricon in 1987, Adrian Popple swiftly ascended the ranks navigating diverse roles-from drafting cadet to design and display management, and a stint in business development, culminating in his now 15-year tenure as National Design Director.

Over three decades, Adrian has meticulously crafted Metricon's design DNA, establishing an envious industry presence.

He joins us to try and answer the burning question of this week: “If Your House Were a Car, It Would Be a 1990 Sedan. How can we Fix That?".

This podcast is brought to you in association with AWS, proud sponsors of our 2025 Residential series of podcasts.

This is the story of Sydney House, a transformative mixed-use development that redefines luxury living while honouring over 130 years of built legacy. 

Rising above the historic facades of the former City Tattersalls Club, this elegant composition is more than just a building—it’s a conversation between past and present. 

From the scalloped rhythms of the tower to the carefully restored Victorian and Art Deco details, Sydney House embodies sensitive addition and contemporary expression. 

In this podcast, Phillip Rossington, Principal of BVN and Richard Francis-Jones, Design Director of FJC Studio, share some of the key creative forces behind the project and unpack the design philosophy, challenges, and vision that shaped one of Sydney’s most refined architectural ensembles.

In this episode of Talking Architecture & Design, we speak with Kylie Sandland, Design Psychologist and Co-Founder of Design for Hope, a social enterprise creating trauma-informed spaces for recovery and well-being. 

With three decades of experience in psychology and organisational consulting, Sandland brings a unique, evidence-based approach to the way environments affect our mental health. 

From domestic violence shelters to rehabilitation centres, her work focuses on designing spaces that foster safety, dignity, and emotional healing. 

Sandland shares the personal story that inspired her career shift into design and introduces her Hope Hierarchy, a framework that translates psychological needs into practical design strategies. 

She explains how elements like lighting, layout, and colour can support trauma recovery, and why staff well-being must also be a design priority. 

Projects like Erin’s Place and Jarrah House illustrate how thoughtful design choices can change lives, not through luxury, but through care and intention. As Sandland says, “spaces can either trigger trauma or help people heal.” 

Listen to learn how trauma-informed design is reshaping not only crisis care environments but also workplaces, schools, and community spaces. 

In this episode, we’re taking a deep dive into Stratco, an Australian company with over 75 years of experience providing building solutions for both professionals and homeowners. 

Stratco offers a wide range of products, including patios, carports, verandahs, garages, sheds, and outdoor living products such as NINELINE, SUPERDEK & PRODEK.

Critically for Australian architects and builders, Stratco has manufacturing facilities in all mainland states of Australia and also in New Zealand.

To explain all about Stratco’s full range of capabilities, we talk with Eric Lien, National Architectural and Specifications Manager, and Andrew Steele, architect and managing director of South Australian design firm Studio Nine Architects.

This episode was sponsored by Stratco.

Nerida Conisbee is Ray White’s Chief Economist and one of Australia’s leading property experts. 

Nerida works closely with industry partners to provide strategic vision and policy recommendations for the future of property in Australia.

She represents Ray White to inform and influence key stakeholder groups across the residential and commercial sectors, in addition to advising major Australian government bodies.

In this exclusive interview, Nerida unravels the main issues behind our housing affordability crisis and some things we can do to alleviate the problem.

This podcast is brought to you in association with AWS, proud sponsors of our 2025 Residential series of podcasts.